Swarovski Crystal Worlds
Art and crystal in and beneath the Giant at Wattens, with a play tower
Activities
Day trips from Niederau
Innsbruck, Kitzbühel, the Zillertal and more: many destinations within an hour's drive.
Niederau lies at the entrance of the Wildschönau, at about 828 metres, and a short road links the valley to the Inn valley. From there many destinations lie within roughly an hour's drive: Kufstein and the Kufsteinerland, the Alpbachtal, the Brixental with Kitzbühel, the Zillertal and Innsbruck. Rattenberg, Hall in Tirol and Schwaz are close too and can often be combined in half a day.
The variety is large. You can visit a town with old streets and a fortress, a valley full of mountain lifts or a lake in summer. The Zillertal is about 47 kilometres long and has a narrow-gauge train. The SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental has about 284 kilometres of pistes in winter, and at Hintertux you can ski on the glacier all year round, according to the lift operator. For families a day trip works best when you choose one or two things rather than trying to see everything.
Distances and drive times are approximate and depend on season, traffic and roadworks. A vignette is needed for Austrian motorways; in 2026 a 10-day vignette for a car costs € 12.80, so check the current rate. Use a current route planner and check opening times before you leave.
Tips
- Pick one main goal a day and leave the rest open.
- Set off early to avoid traffic and crowds.
- Check weather, road conditions and winter equipment before leaving.
- Ask about the vignette for Austrian motorways.
- Take a map or offline route in case reception drops.
Short drives, plenty to see
Children quickly tire of long car journeys. Choose a destination within about an hour's drive and plan a break on the way. In the mountains a drive can take longer than the kilometres suggest. Bring water, snacks and something to do in the car. A train trip can be a pleasant change: in the Zillertal the Zillertalbahn, a narrow-gauge train, runs between Jenbach and Mayrhofen, and along the Inn trains run via Wörgl and Jenbach to Innsbruck. Do check timetables and connections, because from the valley you first take the bus to Wörgl.
Season, weather and rules on the road
In winter, winter tyres or snow chains are advisable. In Austria a winter tyre requirement applies from 1 November to 15 April in snow, ice or slush, and some mountain roads may close. In summer thunderstorms, small mountain roads and lakes are less attractive. A vignette is needed for Austrian motorways, and some alpine roads charge separate tolls. Find out in advance, for instance from your host or a motoring club. Parking in towns is often paid. Check the current rules before you leave.
Winter
Rattenberg glass town in winter
Glass workshops and a medieval old town, even on a cold day
Olympic bob run Igls
Ride as a passenger in a guest bob on the Winter Games track
Zillertalbahn steam train
By narrow-gauge steam train from Jenbach to Mayrhofen
Summer
Day trip to Munich by train
A city day in Bavaria: Marienplatz, Englischer Garten and museums
Day trip to Innsbruck
The Tyrolean capital with its old town, Golden Roof and mountain railway
Berchtesgaden and Königssee
Day trip to Germany's Berchtesgadener Land with an alpine lake and salt mine
Kitzbühel old town walk
Traditional façades, churches and shopping lanes in the Gams town
Hofburg Innsbruck
Imperial palace with state rooms from the era of Maria Theresa
Frequently asked questions
Which towns are easy to reach?
Wörgl, Kufstein and Rattenberg are close; Kitzbühel and Innsbruck are about an hour's drive or slightly more, depending on traffic.
Can I use public transport?
Yes, buses run from the valley to Wörgl station, where trains continue. It takes more planning; check the current timetable.
What is a good day trip in the rain?
A town with museums and covered spaces, such as Innsbruck or Hall in Tirol, works well. Check opening times beforehand.
Stay in Niederau Partner
Hotel Wastlhof, partner of Niederau.nl, is a family-run hotel with an indoor and an outdoor pool, wellness and its own riding stables, right in the village. For more places to stay and information you can also contact the Wildschönau tourist office.
To Hotel Wastlhof · Wildschönau tourist office · More about staying in Niederau